The degradation of chlorpyrifos in water by Fenton (H2O2/Fe2+) and solar photo-Fenton (H2O2/Fe2+/solar light) processes was investigated. A laboratory-scale reactor was designed to evaluate and select the optimal oxidation condition. The degradation rate is strongly dependent on pH, temperature, H2O2 dosing rate, and initial concentrations of the insecticide and Fe2+. The kinetics of organic matter decay was evaluated by means of chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurement. Overall kinetics can be described by a pseudo-second-order rate equation with respect to COD. The optimum conditions were obtained at pH 3, H2O2 dosing rate 120 mg-min-1, [Fe2+]0 5.0 mM, initial COD 1 330 mg-£-1 and 35°C for the Fenton process. However, in the solar photo-Fenton process, the degradation rate increased significantly. To achieve 90% of COD removal, the solar photo-Fenton process needs 50% less time than that used in the Fenton process which translates to a 50% gain of H2O2.